Photographic apparatus for processing film material



April 12, 1949. E. H. LAND 2,467,320

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING FILM MATERIAL .Filed Deo. 4, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 No BY l iam April 12, 1949. E, H. LAND PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING FILM MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 4, 1947 fas FIG. 3

W BY FIG. 4

Patented Apr. 12, 1949 PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING FILM MATERIAL Edwin H. Land, Cambridge, Mass., assigner to Polaroid Corporation, Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Grignal application May 31, 1946, Serial No.

673,404. Divided and this application Decemher 4, 1947, Serial No. 789,714

12 Claims.

This invention relates to photographic apparatus and more particularly to apparatus incorporated with a camera ici' treating lm material exposed therein.

This application is a division of my copending application hearing Serial No. 673,404, filed May 31, 1946.

An object of the present invention is to provide camera apparatus for subjecting exposed film materials :to a processing treatment and for placing and holding the materials thereafter in a substantially light-tight compartment, the compartment being positienable with respect Ito other casing porti-ons of the camera for rendering the Iapparatus compact for carrying and storage -purposes.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of `a suitable collapsible chamber mounted on external portions of the camera for receiving .and holding iilm material which has been exposed and subjected to a processing treatment within .the camera.

A further object of -the present invention is to provide a substantially light-tight compartment for receiving nlm material ejected through an aperture in the casing oi a camera, the compartment being so mounted upon the camera that it may be held at one position for receiving the film material and may be held at another position providing both an overall compactness of the apparatus land a frontal closure or casing portion for protecting the lens and bellows of the camera when the latter are not in use.

These and other objects of the invention will in part loe obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing the construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which are exemplified in the apparatus hereinafter described, andthe scope of the application of which will ibe indicated in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is an elevational View, partly in cross section and with parts broken away, of `one form of the novel camera apparatus of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a somewhat schematic, fragmentary perspective view of elements of the lm magazine and magazine holder and illustrates a method by which a form of film pack may be loaded in the camera;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of elements of the novel camera apparatus in 4association with a suitable composite photographic nlm, along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic, 4fragmentary perspective view, partly in cross section, illustrating the operation of lpropulsive and compressive roller elements in conjunction with `a composite photographic film material suitable for use in the camera apparatus..

Referring to Fig. l, a somewhat schematic represen-tation oi the novel camera apparatus comrisng the invention is shown, said apparatus being of suitable design for photographic exposure of va plurality of photographic iilm units, for processing said iilm units, for forming positive prints of the subject images thereof, and for removal of the completed prints from :the camera apparatus for viewing said prints.

Camera elements illustrated comprise lens I2, having a suitable shutter, not shown, associated therewith, shutter release i4, View finder |16, bellows i8, and framing plate 2i). A camera housing suitable :for supporting and enclosing the apparatus and for preventing admittance of actinic light to photosensitive iilm material preferably comprises a plurality of wall portions forming a plurality ci light-tight chambers for releasably holding a supply of the nlm units, for photographically exposing said units, and for processing said lunits after exposure thereof. In the form of camera apparatus shown in Fig. l, Wall portion 22 forms the principal housing of the camera. Pivotally attached :thereto by hinge elements 2d and 26 are external wall portions 28 and 3d, respectively, said portions providing means for access to the interior of the housing and having friction latch means 32 `and locking latch 3d, respectively, for releasably holding said portions in closed position. The inner constructions of the camera comprise a magazine 36 removably mountable vin a magazine holder 38, access to the magazine holder being accomplished hy releasing friction latch 32, swinging open Wall portion 2B of the camera casing, releasing locking latch 4G, and by swinging open pivotally mounted portion l2 of the magazine holder on hinge element llt. The magazine may then be inserted in the holder through the portions of the camera which have been opened as `above described. Rib elements il@ extending along wall portions of the magazine are provided for engaging grooves 48 formed in adjacent portions of the magazine holder, said rib and groove components facilitating `positive mounting of the magazine in the holder. The combination oi' pvotally mounted members 28 and 42 forming chamber 55 therebetween provides means for excluding actinic light fro-m the interior of the magazine containing film units 52, said means being supplementary to light-shieldin-g means 54 comprising a spring-like element attached t-o member ft2 in such manner as to block aperture 56 when said member 42 is in closed position. Aperture 55 is of suitable dimensions for withdrawing there-through a light shield of suitable form from frontal portions of the magazine after loading said magazine in the magazine holder, thus enabling the foremost film unit to be released and moved toward a position for photographic exposure thereof. It will be apparent that pivotally mounted casing portion 28 may be dispensed with in a modified design of the camera Without ma.- terially affecting its operability, said portion serving as additional means for protecting photosensitive materials Within the camera and providing a dust seal for aperture 56.

A construction and relationship of elements of the magazine, magazine holder, and camera portions for mounting the magazine is more fully illustrated in Fig. 2, wherein is shown protective plate 58, constructed of sheet metal or other suitable material, and having tab portion U, said tab being adapted to project through aperture 55 when door l2 is closed and, in said position, to provide means for withdrawing said plate 58 after loadin'g the magazine in the magazine holder. Flange ele-ments 52, projecting rearwardly from marginal portions of the plate, are adapted to engage similarly shaped slots 54 comprising extended portions of aperture 55 adjacent each end thereof, said slots coacting with grooves 55, and said grooves extending within and parallel to sidewall portions of magazine 36. The aforesaid aperture, slots, and grooves permit both the mounting of plate 53 on magazine 35 and its removal therefrom.

Film units 52 may be loaded in the magazine and cover 58 thereafter installed in a suitable darkroom, said loading operation being accomplished by inserting the first film unit through the open side of the magazine against pressure plate 58 tensioned by compression spring lil, and by thereafter loading the balance of lm units in adjacent relationship to each other.

rilhe loaded magazine may then be installed in the magazine holder and plate 58 removed therefrom, as above described. The foremost lm unit 52a is thus adapted to release from the magazine, said release and the forward movement of all suceeding iilm units being actuated through the influence of compression spring l0 and said foremost film unit 52a being thus brought to framed position in contact with framing plate 2U, It is to be noted in Fig. 1 that the distance between front or open edge portions of the magazine and framing plate 20 is slightly greater than the thickness of a film unit and that said dimension provides a space wherein said film unit may be held through frictional contact with a succeeding film unit in framed position for photo-graphic exposure. It is further to be noted that an aperture l2 adjacent said framed film unit is provided by a plurality of elements comprising a front edge of the magazine 55a, an extended portion 38a of the magazine holder, and an extended portion 25ct of the framing plate, said aperture likewise being of a width slightly exceeding that of the lm unit and providing a -passage through which said film unit may be guided after its photographic exposure.

A form of composite nlm unit suitable for use in the camera apparatus of the invention is shown in Fig. 4 and comprises an opaque base layer 14, a photosensitive layer 15, adhering to said base layer, and a layer 18 comprising a transparent, preferably cellulosic material suitable for carrying a photographic print. Layer I8 is preferably bonded to layer l5 along marginal portions 80 only, facing areas 82 of said layers lying between said marginal portions, defined within the broken line, being substantially superfposed throughout but unbonded to one another and thereby being adapted to introduction and spreading of a fluid such as a photographic processing fluid therebetween. Facing areas 32 substantially comprise the photographic image portions of the composite film, namely, those portions adapted to processing and the formation therewithin or thereupon of a lpositive photographic print.

A collapsible container 84 enclosing a uid of the aforesaid type and having means for directional release of said fluid as, for example, having a frangible seal along edge portions 85 thereof, is shown positioned between said layers l5 and 18 and adjacent said image areas 82. The construction of the composite film illustrated in Fig. 4 is such that upon applications of compression commencing at lower extremities of container 84 and moving progressively upward, the fluid in said4 container is ejected between frangible portions 85 thereof and is spread between unbonded layer portions 82 as above described. Raised or beaded portions 88 of the film extending longitudinally thereof adjacent said marginal portions 80 provide a construction whereby, when a plurality of film units aire loaded in magazine 35 of Fig. 1, the compressive force of spring 10 is transmitted from one unit to another through said beaded portions only, no part of said force being borne by fluid contain-er 80. lying therebetween, and said construction thus obviating the possibility of inadvertent collapse of the container and release of the iiuid within the magazine. It will be obvious that other means may be employed for preventing undesirable subjection to pressure of the liquid container while said film is loaded in the magazine, said means comprising modifications o-f the lm vper se, o-r means associated with the magazine for separating film units while positioned therein.

Referring to Fig. 1 and assuming film units 52 and 52a to be generally of the above-described type, each of said film units is to be regarded as correctly positioned in the camera with its transparent print-carrier layer nearest to framing plate 25 followed in order by the aforesaid photosensitive and base layers, respectively. The uidenclosing container, mounted between said printcarrier and photosensitive layers, is positioned at the lower portions of the film unit adjacent aperture 12. Upon actuating shutter release I4, the subject image is transmitted by said transparent print-carrier layer to the photosensitive layer and, accordingly, photographic exposure of said lastnamed layer is obtained.

After the above-described exposure of the photosensitive layer, the composite film may be subjected to processing for forming a positive print of the aforementioned subject image. Mechanism suitable for the purpose comprises pinion gears 9B, handcrank 92, and cam elements 95 bearing roller members 96 (Figs. 1 and 3), said gears, handcrank, and cams being rigidly attached to one another and capable of being rotated together in a clockwise direction. Pinion gears 90 are engaged with gears 98, said last-named gears being coaxially mounted and joined with friction rollers |00, clockwise rotation of pinions 90 thus acting to drive said elements 88 and |00 in a counterclockwise direction. A pair of slots |02 in extended portion 2ila of the framing plate permits entrance therethrough of the periphery of said friction rollers |03 and their positioning in frictional contact with marginal portions 88 of fllm unit 52a. The surfacing of friction rollers inl! may preferably be of a resilient, tacky composition adapted to positive engagement with said marginal portions of the film. l

Pinion gears 90 are likewise engaged with gears |94, said last-named gears being mounted upon and rigidly attached to the shaft bearing pressure roller |06, said elements |04 and |06 being rotatable in a counterclockwise direction through clockwise rotation of handcrank 92. In turn. gears |04 engage with gears |08 (one gear |08 only being shown) said last-named gears being mounted upon and rigidly attached to the shaft bearing pressure roller H0, and said elements |513 and Hi) being rotatable in a clockwise direction through the aforesaid clockwise rotation of handerank S2.. Gears |08 may be omitted in a modification of design and sufhcient propulsive force applied to the nlm through pressure roller lo@ alone. Although not shown, pressure rollers ille and H0 may preferably be spring-loaded for imparting compressive force thereto, tension being applied to their respective axes in a plane intersecting said axes.

Gears 98 and associated friction rollers |06 are pivotally mounted by means of arms ||2 having pivot pins H4 (one pin only being shown) whereby said friction rollers may either be caused to engage marginal portions of the film units as illustrated or may be pivotally displaced from said position of engagement therewith as will presently be shown. Engagement of friction rollers ll with each fum unit is principally induced through coil spring H6 attached, respectively, to extended portion a of the framing plate and to arm H2, said spring being formed for applying a predetermined tension to said arm. It will be noted that at the position of engagement of friction rollers and nlm unit, as shown, roller members 95 of cams 94 are so placed, through the rotative position of said cams, as to be barely in contact with or slightly spaced from arms H2 and that said roller members in the aforesaid position exert no inuence upon the pivotally adjustable position of said arms H2. Upon completing a suiiicient clockwise rotation of cams 94, it is apparent that roller members 9S will be brought into contact with lower edge portions of H2, said lower edges being positioned to intercept arcs described by said rollers when the rollers are brought adjacent said lower edge portions of arms H2. The rollers, in describing said arcs, apply thrust to said arm portions, cause the pivotally mounted arms to move substantially upward and to the right and, accordingly, provide disengagement of gears 98 from gears 9U and disengagement of friction rollers |00 from ilm unit 52a.

A lever element H1, having pivotal mounting l lll, indented portion |20, and depressible handle portion |22 extending through a light-shielded slot |714,r formed in the camera housing substantially at right angles to the axis of said handle, is positioned `for coactive operation with arm H2. An edge portion or lever H1 is held in contact with a pin |26 extending forwardly from a surface of said arm H2 through tension applied by a coil spring |28 attached to said lever and to the camera casing. When arm H2 is pivotally rotated as hereinbefore described, pin |26 is caused to move along said edge of lever Hl and to enter indented portion |20 thereof, thus substantially locking the arm and lever together and, more particularly, thereby holding friction rollers H30 out of engagement with nlm unit 52a. Said spacing of the friction rollers from the film is maintained until lever handle |22 is depressed, thereby withdrawing indentation |20 from pin |2S and permitting arms H2 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction provided cam rollers 96 are at a nonoperative rotative position relative to said arms as hereinbefore described.

In operation the aforementioned elements function as follows: Film unit 52a is photographcally exposed through actuation of shutter release |4. Handcrank 92 is rotated in a clockwise direction causing counterclockwise rotation of friction rollers |03 and, accordingly, film unit 52a is propelled through aperture l2. The film unit is then engaged and subjected to propulsion and compression by pressure rollers IDB and HU, rotating in counterclockwise and clockwise directions, respectively. After engagement of said pressure rollers and nlm unit, roller elements Sii have been rotated to the aforesaid position whereby thrust is applied by said rollers to arms H2, thus breaking engagement of friction rollers I0!! and the film unit. Said terminated engagement of the friction rollers and film unit is maintained until lever handle |22 is depressed as hereinbefore described. Continued rotation of handcrank 92 causes pressure rollers |65 and H0 to propel and compress the entire nlm unit 52a therebetween. During that part of the propulsion cycle of said film unit when the trailing edge thereof has passed that portion of framing plate extension 20a which is substantially in the horizontal plane of the lower wall 36a of the magazine a succeeding film unit will be completely released from the magazine and brought to the framed position in which unit 52a is shown through the force applied by magazine compression spring 10 which tends to move all of the film units in the magazine toward said framing plate.

In passing between pressure rollers |06 and H0, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4, the illm unit is subjected to progressive compressive stress, causing collapse of container 84, release of a photographic fluid contained therein, and spreading of said iiuid over at least image portions 82 of said film unit including permeation of the photosensitive layer by said iiuid. Said operations contribute to processing of the photosensitive layer of said lm and formation of a positive photographic print of the subject image of said photographic exposure upon predetermined layer portions of said film. Fig. 4 also shows the construction of a suitable framing plate 20 wherein indented portions thereof receive projecting portions 88 of the film and prevent lateral displacement of said lm when in framed position. Fig. 3, taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 shows preferred gearing and shafting of propulsive and compressive means wherein it will be observed that said shafting extends transversely of the film unit, beyond both longitudinal edges thereof, and permits a duplication of the gearing, fric` tion rollers, cams, cam rollers, and arms shown in Fig. 1, said constructions providing a more positive and evenly regulated propulsion and compression of the film unit. Fig. 3' also illustrates the position of pressure rollers (roller |06, only, being visible due to the showing in elevation) with respect to collapsed container 84 and image areas 82, it being assumed that a photographic iiuid, released from said container, as previously described, is undergoing spreading between unbonded layer portions of the lm unit comprising said image areas 82.

From the pressure rollers |06 and ||0, the lm unit is propelled through a transverse slot (Fig. 1) formed in camera casing 22, said slot having a breadth and length slightly in excess of the thickness and Width, respectively, of the film unit, said slot extending substantially across said casing 22 and lying in the plane of film travel. The lm unit is propelled through the aforesaid slot and is passed into the chamber |32 through a complementary slot in the latter. Completion of movement of the iilm unit into chamber |32 is principally achieved by means of gravitational force and it will be seen that maintenance of said chamber in the position shown provides an angular arrangement of chamber casing elements whereby a plurality of said film units may be received and automatically arranged in successive order.

For the purpose of providing a compact camera for carrying or storage purposes, receiving or storage chamber |32 may be rotated on pivot element |34 to a mounting position next the camera casing providing a more compact apparatus as, for example, adjacent the front of the camera, after bellows portions |8 thereof have been compressed and locking latch elements |36 and |38 have been mutually engaged, said first-named latch element having depressible release means |40. The form of receiving chamber employed may comprise a generally rigid box-like construction or, as shown, may comprise two substantially rigid casing portions |42 and |44 formed from a sheet metal or other suitable opaque material, and bellows-like casing portions |46 forming a top and two side wall parts of said chamber As illustrated, two interconnected resilient lug members |48, preferably formed from a resilient metal, extend upwardly from and transversely across the top of said chamber |32, said members forming therebetween a slot-like aperture adapted to insertion in the aforementioned slot |30 formed in casing 22, said aperture being adapted to the passage therethrough of a lm unit and lugs |48 serving as means contributive to the holding of said chamber in correct operative position for reception of iilm units. The lower enclosing portion of said chamber comprises means providing access to said chamber, namely, pivotally mounted door |50, pivotal means |52 therefor permitting inward or outward rotation of said door, and notch |54 formed adjacent an end portion oi chamber casing |44, said notch being of suitable dimensions for receiving the extremity of said door and, accordingly, for retaining said door in closed position. Coil springs |56 and |58 attached to casing portions |42 and |44 adjacent both side wall portions |46 provide compressive force which is applied to the chamber and contributes both to hold said chamber substantially rigidly when in operative position and to maintain said chamber in a collapsed condition when it is pivoted to inoperative position,

of suitable opaque material mounted for translational movement between channeled member |62 and casing 22.

When an exposed and processed lm unit undergoing propulsion has passed beyond pressure rollers |06 and H0, said position thereof will be rendered obvious to the operator through termination oi its frictional engagement with said rollers and accordingly by a lesser resistance to the rotation of handcrank 92. When said position of the film has thus become apparent, handcrank 92 is preferably to be stationed at the downward position shown in Fig. 1 thus automatically reestablishing a position of cam roller elements 96, suitably spaced from or in light contact with arms H2, thus permitting engagement of friction rollers |00 with a film unit in framed position. Upon establishment of a relationship of elements Ias above described, photographic exposure of the succeeding framed iilm unit may be performed. After said exposure, lever handle |22 may be depressed bringing friction roller |00 into engagement with marginal portions of said framed iilm unit and the handcrank may then be rotated for displacing said unit from framed position and for processing said unit as hereinbeiore described.

It Will be apparent that further modications of camera apparatus may be made within the scope of the invention. Modied iilrn propulsive means contemplates use of a backlash mechanism or a ratchet and pawl for obtaining the hereinbefore-described intermittent operations oi friction rollers |00.

Although pressure rollers have been shown herein as a means for applying compression to the iilm material, it Will be understood that other forms of compressing means may be employed such as one or more spring tension plates or squeegee elements, as where the lm is advanced relative to said compressing means by separate advancing means.

Since certain changes in the constructions set forth which embody the invention may be made without departing from its scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a camera of a type comprising a main housing which includes means permitting the photographic exposure of a photosensitive lm material, means for spreading a processing liquid between said iilm material and another sheet material, means providing a slot in said housing through Which said lm material and said sheet material may be ejected from said housing prior to completion of the processing thereof, the combination with said main housing means of auxiliary housing means, said auxiliary housing means comprising relatively rigid front and rear walls and collapsible side Wall portions connecting said front and rear walls, means providing a slot in said auxiliary chamber, and means for inovably mounting said auxiliary housing means with respect to said main housing means so that in one position of said auxiliary housing said slot then coacts with said slot in said main housing to provide a light-tight passage for the transfer of said processed film from said main housing to said auxiliary housing, said mounting means permitting said auxiliary chamber to assume another position wherein it may be collapsed and located `9 with one of said rigid walls thereof adjacent a wall of said main housing.

2. In a camera of a type comprising a main housing which includes means permitting the photographic exposure of a photosensitive lm material, means for spreading a processing liquid between said nlm material and another sheet material, means providing an aperture in said housing through which said iilm material and said sheet material may be ejected from said housing prior to completion of the processing thereof, the combination with said main housing of an auxiliary housing means comprising collapsible wall portions, said auxiliary housing means in its expanded position having an aperture in one Wall thereof, and means for holding said auxiliary housing means in expanded position with the aperture therein positioned to coact with the aperture in said main housing so as to provide a passage through which the processed lm may be ejected from said main housing into said auxiliary housing, said mounting means permitting said auxiliary housing to be collapsed and iiattened against one wall of said main housing.

3. In a camera of a type comprising a main housing which includes means permitting the photographic exposure of a photo-sensitive film material, means for spreading a processing liquid between said nlm material and another sheet material, means providing an aperture in said housing through which said lm material and said sheet material may be ejected from said housing prior to completion of the processing thereof, the combination with said main housing of an auxiliary housing means having Ian aperture formed in one of the walls thereof, said wall being of lesser planar area than at least one other of said walls, and means for movably mounting said auxiliary housing means with respect to said main housing means so that in one position of said auxiliary housing said apertures are in position to coact with one another to provide la passage for the transfer of lm from said main housing to said auxiliary housing and in another position of said auxiliary housing said other wall being located adjacent to a wall of said main housing, thereby providing a more compart arrangement for said camera in its inoperative position.

4. In -a camera of a type for exposing a photosensitive film material, for compressing it with another sheet-material during relative movement of the materials and a compressing means to spread a processing iiuid between said materials, and for ej ecting the compressed materials through an aperture formed in a casing portion thereof immediately contiguous said compressing means, the combination of means providing a chamber having an aperture formed therein for receiving the materials when they are ejected from the camera, said chamber serving to hold said materials while processing of the lm is being completed, means for so attaching the chamber means to the camera casing as to permit said chamber means to assume a plurality of positions relative thereto, at one of said positions ia. given side of said chamber means being brought adjacent said camera casing and the aperture of said chamber means and aperture in said camera casing being placed adjacent one another to provide a passage for transfer of the compressed materials from the camera to the chamber means, and at a second of said positions another side of said chamber means being brought adjacent said camera casing to provide compactness of said camera and chamber means, and means for releasably holding 10 said chamber means at each of said positions relative to said camera casing.

5. In a camera comprising a casing forming at least a chamber wherein a photosensitive hlm material may be photographically exposed, subjected to :a processing treatment, and ejected through a slot formed in the casing immediately adjacent hlm-processing means of the camera, the combination of means providing a substantially oblong chamber having a slot formed therein for receiving the materials when they are ejected from the camera, said chamber serving to hold said materials while processing of the lrn is being completed, means for so attaching the chamber means to the camera casing as to permit said chamber means to assume a plurality of positions relative thereto, at one of said positions a given side of said chamber means being brought adjacent a given side of said camera casing and the slot of said chamber means and slot in said camera casing being placed adjacent one another to provide a continuous aperture for transfer of the compressed materials from the camera to the chamber means, and at a second of said positions another side of said chamber means being brought adjacent another side of said camera casing to provide compactness of said camera and chamber means, means for releasably holding said chamber means at each of said positions relative to said camera casing, and means providing access to said chamber means for removal of said materials therefrom.

6. In a camera comprising a casing forming at least a chamber wherein a photosensitive iilm material may be photographically exposed, subjected to a processing treatment, and ejected through an aperture formed in the casing, the combination of means providing a chamber having an aperture formed therein for receiving the materials when they are ejected from the camera, said chamber serving to hold said materials while processing of the lm is being completed, means for so attaching the chamber means to the carnera casing as to permit said chamber means to assume a plurality of positions relative thereto, at one of said positions said camera and chamber means being placed substantially end to end and the aperture of said chamber means and aperture in said camera casing being placed adjacent one another to provide a passage for transfer of the compressed materials from the camera to the chamber means, and at another of said positions said apertures being removed from one another and the camera and chamber means being placed side by side in contact with one another to provide compactness of said camera and chamber means, means for releasably holding said chamber means at each of said positions relative to said camera casing, and means providing access to said chamber means for removal of said materials therefrom.

7. In a camera of a type for exposing a photosensitive film material, for compressing it with another sheet material during relative movement of the materials and a compressing means to spread a processing iiuid between said materials, and for ejecting the compressed materials through a slot formed in a casing portion thereof immediately contiguous said compressing means, the combination of means providing a chamber having a slot formed therein for receiving the materials when they are ejected from the camera, said chamber serving to hold said materials while processing of the iilm is being completed, means for so pivotally attaching the chamber means to the camera casing as to permit said chamber means to assume a plurality of positions relative thereto, at one of said positions a given side of said chamber means being brought adjacent said camera casing and the slot of said chamber means and slot in said camera casing being placed adjacent one another to provide a continuous aperture for transfer of the compressed materials from the camera to the chamber means, and at a second of said positions another side of said chamber means being brought adjacent said camera casing to provide a more compact arrangement of said camera and chamber means than is permitted at said first-named position thereof, latching and coupling means for releasably holding said chamber means at said positions relative to said camera casing, and means providing access to said chamber means for removal of said materials therefrom.

8. In a camera of a type for exposing a photosensitive film material, for compressing it with another sheet material during relative movement of the materials and a compressing means to spread a processing fluid between said materials, and for ejecting the compressed materials through an aperture formed in a casing portion thereof immediately contiguous said compressing means, the combination of means providing a collapsible chamber having an aperture formed therein for receiving the materials when they are ejected from the camera, said chamber in expanded condition serving to hold said materials while processing of the iilm is being completed, means for so attaching the chamber means to the camera casing as to permit said chamber means to assume a plurality of positions relative thereto, at one of said positions the chamber Vmeans being held in expanded condition and a given side of said chamber means being brought adjacent said camera casing so that the aperture of said chamber means and aperture in said camera casing are placed adjacent one another to provide a passage for transfer of the compressed materials from the camera to the chamber means, and at a second of said positions said chamber means being placed in collapsed condition and another side of said chamber means being brought adjacent said camera casing to provide a more compact arrangement of said chamber means and camera casing than is possible at said first-named relative position thereof, and means for releasably holding said chamber means at each of said positions relative to said camera casing.

9. In a camera of a type comprising bellows and lens means for exposing a photosensitive fllm material, means for compressing the exposed fllm material with another sheet material during relative movement of the materials and a compressing means to spread a processing fluid between said materials, and means for ejecting the compressed materials through a slot formed in a casing portion thereof immediately contiguous said compressing means, the combination of means providing a chamber having a slot formed therein for receiving the materials when they are ejected from the camera, said chamber serving to hold said materials while processing of the film is being completed, means for so attaching the chamber means to the camera casing as to enable said chamber means to assume a plurality of positions relative thereto, at one of said positions a given side of said chamber means being brought adjacent said camera casing and the slot of said chamber means and slot in said cam- 12 era casing being placed adjacent one another to provide a continuous aperture for transfer of the compressed materials from the camera to the chamber means, and at a second of said positions another side of said chamber means being brought adjacent said camera casing to provide a closure for the front thereof after the bellows has been collapsed, said last-named position of the chamber means permitting a compactness of said chamber means and camera, and means for releasably holding said chamber means at each of said positions relative to said camera casing.

10. In a camera of a type for treating an assemblage of sheet materials comprising a photosensitive layer and another layer by exposing the photosensitive layer, by subjecting both layers to a compressing means to spread a processing iiuid therebetween, and by ejecting the compressed materials through a slot formed in a casing portion of the camera positioned immediately contiguous the compressing means, the combination of means providing a substantially oblong chamber having a slot formed therein for receiving the materials when they are ejected from the camera, said chamber means providing a light-tight compartment for holding said materials while processing of the lm is being complted, the relative position of the compressing means and the slots of the camera and chamber means, respectively, enabling said materials to travel substantially in a straight line from the compressing means to the interior of said chamber means, means for so attaching the chamber means to the camera casing as to permit said chamber means to assume a plurality of positions relative thereto, at one of said positions a given side of said chamber means being brought adjacent said camera casing and the slot of said chamber means and slot in said camera casing being placed adjacent one another to provide a continuous aperture for transfer of the compressed materials from the camera to the chamber means, and at a second of said positions another side of said chamber means being brought adjacent said camera casing to provide compactness of said camera and chamber means, and means for releasably holding said chamber means at each of said positions relative to said camera casing.

11. Apparatus for treating an assemblage of sheet materials comprising a photosensitive layer and another layer, said materials having a filmprocessing fluid releasably contained therebetween to provide a visible photographic image therein, said apparatus comprising, in combination, means for mounting a supply of said materials suilicient to provide a plurality of photosensitive areas adapted to exposure, means for successively positioning said photosensitive areas in a plane for exposure to actinic light, means for exposing said areas when thus positioned, rotatable means engaging said assembly for advancing said areas from exposure position after exposure thereof, means comprising a pair of compressing members adapted to apply a compression throughout successive fluid-bearing and exposed areas of said assemblage during advancement thereof to provide release and spreading of said fluid between said materials for eectin a permeation and processing of the exposed areas, casing means enclosing aforesaid apparatus, said casing having an aperture formed therein for release of said sheet material assembly, and means comprising a light-tight chamber pivotally attached to said casing, said chamber having an aperture formed therein adapted to be releasabiy coupled with the aperture of said casing so that said. assembly of materiais, after compression, may be transferred from said casing to said chamber, said. chamber being adapted to be pivoted to a second position relative to said casing, when not in use, for contributing to the Compactn ness of said apparatus and improving the port, bility thereof.

l2. In a camera comprising' a casing forming at least a chamber wherein a photosensitive material may be photographcally exposed, subjected to a processing treatment and ejected through an aperture formed in the casing, the combination therewith of means comprising a light-tight 14 chamber, and means for pvotally attaching said chamber ineens to said casing, said chamber listing en aperture formed therein ed to be reieasably coupled with the aperture oi" 'l casing so that ilm material after processing may be transferred from said casing to cham- Toer means, said pivotenounting means adapting said chamber means for pvotel movement to a second position relative to said casine when not in use for contributing to the compactness of said apertures and improving the portability thereof.

EDWIN H. LAND.

No references cited.

Certicete of Correction Patent No. 2,467,320 April 12, 194e EDWIN H. LAND It is hereby certied that error appears in the printed speeicetion of the above numbered patent requn'ng correction as follows:

Column 9, line 47, for compart reed compact;

and that the said Letters Patent shoud be reed with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the cese in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 30th day of May, A. D. 1950.

[SEAL] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant ommssz'oner of Patents.

Certicate of Correction Patent N o. 2,467,320 April 12, 1949 EDWIN H. LAND It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 9, line 47, for oompart read compact;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oice.

Signed and sealed this 30th day of May, A. D. 1950.

[SML] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Gommzssz'oner of Patents. 

